Women and Alcoholism: An Increased Risk

In today’s society and general popular culture, alcohol abuse is often more associated with men. After all, many southern mothers used to tell their young girls that drinking beer or drinking publicly was ‘unladylike’. 

The stigma of men and alcohol has permeated our society. Whether that’s from men frequenting sports bars to watch the latest game or that the majority of alcohol seems to be more associated with men, women and alcoholism often get left behind.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

Over the last two decades, the US has seen a sharp rise in alcohol use and the majority of that rise is in women, primarily middle-aged women and older. Studies show that binge-drinking in women has risen by 20% in some age groups since 2000.

What are the causes of this spike, and what should women be most aware of?

Biological Differences

Before we jump into the increased risk, we need to understand how men and women process alcohol differently. Men can absorb and metabolize alcohol at a higher rate meaning they generally can drink a bit more without seeing the adverse effects.

Women are more likely to experience liver damage, heart disease, and brain damage from excessive drinking. Excess drinking also exposes women to breast cancer and other types of cancer, such as mouth, throat, and colon. 

Alcohol is Becoming Part of a Daily Routine

For many women, alcohol was often reserved for social events, parties, or big dinners. Now, it has become more prevalent in the daily life of many. 

‘Mommy juice’ is a term often slung around for mothers with kids. No one is going to question any mother that raising kids is hard. Hands always grabbing you, sibling disagreements happening every 30 seconds, and the same song over and over again.

But now, ‘mommy juice’ is becoming part of what helps a mother get through her day. 

Also playing into the role is that more and more women are turning towards a career instead of raising a family. A 2013 study showed that women becoming the primary breadwinner of the family has been on the rise. 

With high job positions comes a higher level of stress and more dependence on alcohol. This is why estimates say that almost 5% of women in 2019 suffered from alcohol use disorder.

Studies have also shown that alcohol use for teenagers and high-school-aged girls is on the rise as well, with almost 33% of high school girls admitting to consuming alcohol in the last year. 

What You Can Do

Admitting you have a problem is a tough step for anyone, especially for those struggling with an issue that’s not ‘typical’. Even though it may seem like there is a greater link between men and alcohol, women should be aware of the risks and increased danger that comes from excessive or binge-drinking.

If you feel like you are ready to take a step towards sobriety or just want someone to talk to, reach out and contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.

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